Ecstasy, or 3,4 methylene-dioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is a psychoactive drug. Its alternative names include: "X", "XTC", "the hug drug" and "adam". Its original use was to facilitate in psychotherapy but has since been deemed illegal for any purposes. Ecstasy is taken in a pill or powder form and acts as both a stimulant and psychedelic. It is referred to as a "club drug".

Consequences

Users of Ecstasy face several adverse consequences including cognitive, physical and psychological effects.

Physical effects include:

impairment of body temperature regulation

increased body temperature, which can result in kidney, liver and cardiovascular failure and even death

increased heart rate

increased blood pressure

involuntary teeth clenching

nausea

chills

blurred vision

Psychological effects include:

depression

sleep disruption

anxiety

Other risks include the possible ingestion of other adverse chemicals that may have been added to the MDMA mix. Other chemicals include other stimulants such as ephedra, caffeine, methamphetamine and ketamine. Mixing of these chemicals and MDMA is hazardous, however, risks increase more when MDMA is used in conjunction with alcohol and marijuana.

Additional Resources

Information on this website can be referenced from the Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse and Violence Prevention website.?? Please see the below websites for more information: